The Kachari Dimasa are a tribal Indo-Mongolian people who live in northeast India. For a thousand years before the British colonial period, they maintained a small kingdom in the lands of the modern states of Assam and Nagaland. The Kachari Dimasa originally came from the southern foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. They left the mountains in search of of better farmland and to avoid warfare.
The name Kachari Dimasa means "children of the great river," the Brahmaputra River. They build their villages near rivers and large streams. The villages consist of from thirty to four hundred buildings made of bamboo and thatch. A tribal chief, a Khunang, has both executive and judicial powers.
The primary occupation of the Kachari Dimasa is farming. At the start of the planting season, they dedicate their rice paddies to their supreme god Madai who is associated with Vishnu or Shiva. They also make bamboo products for sale and raise various kinds of domestic animals.
The main language of the Kachari Dimasa is Deori, also called Dimasa. They also speak Hindi and other languages to communicate with other peoples.
The vast majority of the Kachari Dimasa live in the northeast Indian state of Assam. Others live in Nagaland and other regions of India.
The lives of the Kachari Dimasa revolve around the wet and dry seasons of the Indian subcontinent. In addition to rice, cotton and mustard, they also grow vegetables and fruits for consumption and for sale. The eat meat except for beef.
Sons inherit land and real estate while the daughters inherit their mother's possessions and cooking utensils. Young people cannot marry within their clan or village. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young persons. Young couples live with or near the groom's parents.
Dancing and instrumental music make up a big part of the Dimasa culture. Men, women, boys and girls all dance and sing at important life rituals and holidays.
The Kachari Dimasa practice their version of Hinduism. Like other Hindus, they believe in the reincarnation of the soul after death. They do not use Brahmin priests in their ceremonies. They have their own priests. Evil spirits are responsible for disease, calamities and suffering. They cremate their dead near a river.
The Kachari Dimasa celebrate festivals different from mainstream Hinduism.
Their main holiday is Bushu, celebrated at the completion of the harvest in late January for a period of ten to twelve days. The participants eat large communal feasts and drink rice beer. Athletic games and parades occur during the days while dancing, singing and music occur at night. People wear traditional clothing and ornaments.
The Kachari Dimasa need to hear the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need a Bible in their language because one does not exist. They must see that Biblical Christianity is vastly superior to the traditional religion. They must see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior.
Pray that the few Dimasa who are Christians receive training and share the gospel with their brothers and sisters
Pray a Bible is translated into the Dimasa language.
Pray that Lord would move Indian Christians to live among the Dimasa and show them the love and mercy of Christ.
Pray that God raises up a disciple-making movement among the Kachari Dimasa people.
Scripture Prayers for the Kachari Dimasa in India.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimasa_people
indianetzone.com/10/dimasa(_tribe_assam).htm
tourmyindia.com/states/nagaland/bushu-festival.html
Profile Source: David Kugel |
People Name General | Kachari Dimasa |
People Name in Country | Kachari Dimasa |
Natural Name | Dimasa Kachari |
Alternate Names | Bodo Kacari; Boro; Dimasa; कचारी, दिमासा |
Population this Country | 174,000 |
Population all Countries | 187,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 2 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 17130 |
ROP3 Code | 112479 |
Country | India | |||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||
Total States on file | 9 | |||||||||
Largest States |
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Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | |||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 9 |
Assam 144,000 | |
Nagaland 15,000 | |
Meghalaya 5,300 | |
West Bengal 4,200 | |
Arunachal Pradesh 1,500 | |
Mizoram 100 | |
Tripura 100 | |
Delhi 70 | |
Manipur 40 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.17 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
6.07 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
93.06 %
|
Islam |
0.15 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.02 %
|
Unknown |
0.53 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Deori (72,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | der Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Deori (72,000 speakers) |
Language Code | der Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 25 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Dimasa 42,000 | |
Assamese 11,000 | |
Boro 9,800 | |
Bengali 3,100 | |
Khasi 2,600 | |
Karbi 1,100 | |
Hindi 800 | |
Amri Karbi 800 | |
Naga, Ao 500 | |
Naga, Lotha 300 | |
Garo 200 | |
Hmar 200 | |
Mizo 100 | |
Naga, Zeme 100 | |
Naga, Chang 70 | |
People Groups | Speaking Deori |
Primary Language: Deori
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2018) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Deori | Jesus Film Project |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | David Kugel |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |